The next day.
It was still early in the morning, and the sun had not risen yet.
Amidst the steady rain that had weakened a bit, I absentmindedly wandered through the dimly lit forest behind the mansion.
Shing.
Around this time, I didn’t need to be on guard duty for Sara-chan.
Since the incident with the roof tiles, Baron-sama, his wife, and Sara-chan have been sleeping in the same room.
And because Baron-sama has considerable combat skill, my early morning has become a guaranteed free time once again. Or rather, it’s essential to keep it.
The entire day would be tough to bear if I didn’t scrounge some food around this time.
Shing.
I’ve been feeling somewhat scattered and unfocused since yesterday, when Sara-chan invited me to attend the academy with her. It was like my thoughts were all over the place, and I couldn’t gather them.
Shing.
Sara-chan was my friend.
I hadn’t realized it, but Sara-chan seemed to be my friend. And this friend of mine invited me to be with her.
I felt so happy.
Shing.
I recalled the goal of my life.
It was to enjoy a delicious meal with Omake-sama in a warm home.
Depending on how you look at it, I might have already fulfilled this goal, as I have become employed by the Baron’s family.
I could eat food prepared by humans for other humans in a sheltered indoor space without having to think about rain and wind.
If I accepted Sara-chan’s invitation, this happiness would surely continue.
Shing.
But… but still.
Was that okay? A part of me wondered.
Because if I had such a comfortable life, I couldn’t become stronger.
Going to the academy with Sara-chan would be an experience, of course, but…
If I did that, would I become as strong as my master?
Shing.
The academy was located in the capital of this country.
Surely life there would be more confined.
I won’t be able to train in the forest, nor will I have the freedom to hunt for snacks.
Could I endure that kind of life?
Shing.
What kind of life would I hope for?
Shing.
…………………….
Shing.
…………….
Shing.
……
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
<……ー！ Emmy, Emmy! Hey! Listen to me, Emmy!>
… Huh? What? What’s wrong, Omake-sama?
<Huft… Finally, my voice reached you! Emmy, you’ve been spacing out way too much! Look around, please!>
Upon Omake-sama’s words, I glance around. What I see are the lifeless bodies of countless Topopolok strewn all over the forest.
Wait? There are so many snacks here! Yay!
It seemed like I unconsciously kept hunting Topopolok every time it caught my eye. I picked up a nearby Topopolok and started munching on it…
Gulp.
… Wait a second?
… The number of Topopoloks, aren’t there a bit too many of them?
<You’re realizing this way too late, Emmy! I’ve been warning you again and again, and you just…!>
“Migya-! Migya-! Migya-!”
“Migyagyagyagyagyagya-!”
“Migyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!”
Oops! Sorry, Omake-sama, you can lecture me later!
Rustling through the underbrush, another group of Topopolok appeared and charged toward us.
There were about ten of them.
I used my 【Infinite Pebble】 to shoot at them. And for the time being, I managed to eliminate them.
“Migyaaa-!Mi-Migyaa-!”
“Migyaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!”
However, the cacophony of the Topopolok’s cries didn’t stop.
Instead, it echoed throughout the forest.
Upon closer inspection, inside the dim forest, their three red eyes were gleaming.
<This is clearly way too many! It’s an abnormal situation! You can consider this a Topopolok stampede!>
A… stampede!? What’s that!?
<It’s a collective rampage! Due to the constant rain these last few days, their habitat might have gotten flooded or buried due to landslides… The cause is unclear, but anyway, if things continue like this, Topopolok will overflow from the forest! And the first place to be affected will be…>
Right beside the forest… The mansion!!
<Fortunately, it’s still in the early stages of the stampede! If we strengthen the barrier and take countermeasures now, we can definitely reduce the damage!>
I understand. So, what I need to do now is…!
<Report to Baron Marz!>
…Got it!
I kicked the ground, kicked off tree trunks, and hopped off here and there, sprinting back toward the baron’s mansion at full speed.
By utilizing the [Flying Locusts] technique with my running, I could move at a speed comparable to a car on the highway in my past life.
As a result, raindrops hit me like bullets, but I endured with the help of my [Body Reinforcement].
In just a few minutes, the mansion comes into view. It seems like the Topopolok hasn’t overflowed into this area yet.
<You made it just in time, I suppose?>
Alright, let’s hurry.
My body was wet, and I was covered in blood. I would stain the mansion a bit.
But forgive me. I will clean it up later.
<At this time, Baron Marz is probably still in his bedroom.>
Most likely, yeah.
I feel bad for waking up the whole family, who are probably sleeping cozily together, but it’s an emergency.
Thinking so, I stepped into the entrance. At that moment…
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
A piercing sound reverberated throughout the mansion.
… Huh? What’s this?
<!! Emmy, use [Mana Sight]!>
Prompted by Omake-sama, I hurriedly activated [Mana Sight].
Hmm?
Eh?
Wha…aaaat!?
<The protective barrier around the mansion… it vanished!!>
… The Salah Baron family was caught in a sudden crisis.
The next day.
It was still early in the morning, and the sun had not risen yet.
Amidst the steady rain that had weakened a bit, I absentmindedly wandered through the dimly lit forest behind the mansion.
Shing.
Around this time, I didn’t need to be on guard duty for Sara-chan.
Since the incident with the roof tiles, Baron-sama, his wife, and Sara-chan have been sleeping in the same room.
And because Baron-sama has considerable combat skill, my early morning has become a guaranteed free time once again. Or rather, it’s essential to keep it.
The entire day would be tough to bear if I didn’t scrounge some food around this time.
Shing.
I’ve been feeling somewhat scattered and unfocused since yesterday, when Sara-chan invited me to attend the academy with her. It was like my thoughts were all over the place, and I couldn’t gather them.
Shing.
Sara-chan was my friend.
I hadn’t realized it, but Sara-chan seemed to be my friend. And this friend of mine invited me to be with her.
I felt so happy.
Shing.
I recalled the goal of my life.
It was to enjoy a delicious meal with Omake-sama in a warm home.
Depending on how you look at it, I might have already fulfilled this goal, as I have become employed by the Baron’s family.
I could eat food prepared by humans for other humans in a sheltered indoor space without having to think about rain and wind.
If I accepted Sara-chan’s invitation, this happiness would surely continue.
Shing.
But… but still.
Was that okay? A part of me wondered.
Because if I had such a comfortable life, I couldn’t become stronger.
Going to the academy with Sara-chan would be an experience, of course, but…
If I did that, would I become as strong as my master?
Shing.
The academy was located in the capital of this country.
Surely life there would be more confined.
I won’t be able to train in the forest, nor will I have the freedom to hunt for snacks.
Could I endure that kind of life?
Shing.
What kind of life would I hope for?
Shing.
…………………….
Shing.
…………….
Shing.
……
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
Shing.
<……ー！ Emmy, Emmy! Hey! Listen to me, Emmy!>
… Huh? What? What’s wrong, Omake-sama?
<Huft… Finally, my voice reached you! Emmy, you’ve been spacing out way too much! Look around, please!>
Upon Omake-sama’s words, I glance around. What I see are the lifeless bodies of countless Topopolok strewn all over the forest.
Wait? There are so many snacks here! Yay!
It seemed like I unconsciously kept hunting Topopolok every time it caught my eye. I picked up a nearby Topopolok and started munching on it…
Gulp.
… Wait a second?
… The number of Topopoloks, aren’t there a bit too many of them?
<You’re realizing this way too late, Emmy! I’ve been warning you again and again, and you just…!>
“Migya-! Migya-! Migya-!”
“Migyagyagyagyagyagya-!”
“Migyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!”
Oops! Sorry, Omake-sama, you can lecture me later!
Rustling through the underbrush, another group of Topopolok appeared and charged toward us.
There were about ten of them.
I used my 【Infinite Pebble】 to shoot at them. And for the time being, I managed to eliminate them.
“Migyaaa-!Mi-Migyaa-!”
“Migyaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!”
However, the cacophony of the Topopolok’s cries didn’t stop.
Instead, it echoed throughout the forest.
Upon closer inspection, inside the dim forest, their three red eyes were gleaming.
<This is clearly way too many! It’s an abnormal situation! You can consider this a Topopolok stampede!>
A… stampede!? What’s that!?
<It’s a collective rampage! Due to the constant rain these last few days, their habitat might have gotten flooded or buried due to landslides… The cause is unclear, but anyway, if things continue like this, Topopolok will overflow from the forest! And the first place to be affected will be…>
Right beside the forest… The mansion!!
<Fortunately, it’s still in the early stages of the stampede! If we strengthen the barrier and take countermeasures now, we can definitely reduce the damage!>
I understand. So, what I need to do now is…!
<Report to Baron Marz!>
…Got it!
I kicked the ground, kicked off tree trunks, and hopped off here and there, sprinting back toward the baron’s mansion at full speed.
By utilizing the [Flying Locusts] technique with my running, I could move at a speed comparable to a car on the highway in my past life.
As a result, raindrops hit me like bullets, but I endured with the help of my [Body Reinforcement].
In just a few minutes, the mansion comes into view. It seems like the Topopolok hasn’t overflowed into this area yet.
<You made it just in time, I suppose?>
Alright, let’s hurry.
My body was wet, and I was covered in blood. I would stain the mansion a bit.
But forgive me. I will clean it up later.
<At this time, Baron Marz is probably still in his bedroom.>
Most likely, yeah.
I feel bad for waking up the whole family, who are probably sleeping cozily together, but it’s an emergency.
Thinking so, I stepped into the entrance. At that moment…
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
A piercing sound reverberated throughout the mansion.
… Huh? What’s this?
<!! Emmy, use [Mana Sight]!>
Prompted by Omake-sama, I hurriedly activated [Mana Sight].
Hmm?
Eh?
Wha…aaaat!?
<The protective barrier around the mansion… it vanished!!>
… The Salah Baron family was caught in a sudden crisis.
